The Jeff

I had a similar situation. My mother was the joint-sponsor on my wife's case. She just filled out the forms and got the financial docs when we needed them, then fed-exed them to us in China. I just went to the consulate and got it notorized for free. ...interesting side note, though. I had two notirals done. an 1-1834something or other for the initial immigrant visa done in Shenyang with a letter explaining why I don't meet the financial requirements. Total cost: $.0 But when I went to Guangzhou and did the notorial for the I-134, which had the exact same letter as the other notorial, they charged me for the letter. 30 bucks! ...Anyway...sorry for the rant. Have a great time in China!

We'll apply in October for her AOS from Northern California. thanks for the info, Frank. So how long will the AOS take? Slow enough for the 10 year? I'm having mixed feelings.

...so, we're K3 and our 2 year aniversary is on Feb 3rd, 2006. Which is cheaper? applying for the EAD or applying for the removal of conditional resident status on a 2 year green card? We're thinking of just doing the AOS and if a 2 year green card is issued to just pay extra a few months later and get the 10 year version. Advice welcome. We want to give uncle sam as little loot as possible.

...yea, in HK they do things that actually make sense. Like allowing the spouse petitioner to be present at the interview. What the hell is wrong with GZ anyway?...Sorry, I'm drunk and ranting...steming from my fear for my lady's interview in 2 days.

If we had to do it over again, we would have got married in HK, not the mainland like adamchildress...man he was cleaver. My lady's aunt is even from hong kong dang...what were we thinkin'....anyway, don't really matter now cuz her interview is in 2 days...I'm really spazing...I fear and loathe GZ

I've been reading your story...kick ass, man.

I think there might be an English version of QQ, but I'm not sure.

I think we're all tired of the US Government. I knew some Canadians, Australians and Brits who had Chinese SOs and it took them at most 6 months for the entire process. The worst was the Spanish process. Take your Chinese SO to the Spanish Consulate and talk to a Spanish visa officer together. Sign a paper and send it to the Spanish visa centre via fax. Wait for an aproval via returned fax and have the visa issued on the spot. Total Wait: 1 to 2 hours.

That's one real difference about China. Usually if people see someone else being pick pocketed, they won't do anything about it. I've asked students this question and their universal answer on what they would do in this situation: Nothing I have to disagree on the passport issue. You don't really need to cary it with you unless you're travelling or staying at a hotel. I never cary mine.

In the 5 years that I've lived in China (3 with my wife) I've come to realize that it's much easier to receive western comforts in China than it would be to recieve Chinese comforts in the US. For example, I can watch American movies and tv anytime I want. DVDs are cheap enough, and internet makes it even easier. There are other western peoples that are fairly easy to get in contact with. Even in small towns, there are usually a few foreigners that you can have a beer with and watch NBA at the sports bar. If you want, you can even have your western magazines and newspapers sent to your chinese address. But in the US, Chinese communities are pretty much restricted to the larger cities. My recomandation: Give your SO's family in China a super computer. Ones with broadband and enough speed to support fluid web cam connections. They're not that expensive, either. You can get a computer made with all the bells and whistles in china for about 300USD, all new parts. The same computer would be over 2000USD in the US. This way your SO can keep in touch easily with family back in China...not to meantion saving on the phone bill! If your SO has a favorite magazine or newspaper, get a subscription. Anyway, that's all I could think of right now. I know that my first 2 years in China, care packages from my family are what kept me alive.

Pictures, photos of of him with your family and vice versa. Letters from your family members might help, too. Kissing pictures, perhaps a video... Don't know really know about the Australian process, but it sure does sound like a lot of racist BS on the part of the VO.

I remember my first moon Cake Day. I akin it to Turkey Day in the US. I was 21 and a Teacher at a small vocational college. My wife was just my student at the time but she and her friends all came and invited me to sit around the pavillion and eat moon cakes while looking at the moon. It sure was fun...everything except the moon cakes.

You can get a 12 month multiple entry travel visa (L) from any PSB in China. They usually cost around 1000 to 2000 RMB.

Yea...I'm not worried about the financial docs. my mother is the joint-sponser and meets all the requirements...just residency and correspondence...but thanks all the same! I'm sure we'll do fine ...well, I hope so anyway

nope. No assets. No job. I'm a student that dropped out of college 3rd year. Went to China, fell in love, got married, waiting for the visa ever since. Have lots of photos tho'.

I have a question about correspondence...well, it's like this. My SO and I don't have any. Not one letter, one email or any chat records. The reason for this is that I have been living in China the entire time that I have known her. Which brings up another question. Residency. I've heard of some Visa cases being denied because the petitioner cannot demonstrate a domicile in the united states. What does that mean, exactly? On all the apps I've filled out, I've always put down that I live with my mother in the US...even though I haven't been back to the US in about 2 years. During the 2 years since I went back to the US we've always traveled and never spent the whole 2 years in one place. We would work in one city, then after about 3 or 4 months, we would go on to another place in China. Would this be ok and enough to keep US residency status? My SO's interview is comming up pretty soon and I seem to be stressing over every little bit.

Well, apart from being required to dictate the state required marriage vows in Chinese, not much... well, there was that singles certificate that they wouldn't accept from GZ and made us go back for a new one. They said that it was out of date, despite the fact that it wasn't. It read 11 4 2003 but the marriage office read it as April 11th instead of Nobember 4th... grumble grumble....

Yea, I'd like to know that, too. Need to find a place to wait with my sister-in-law while my wife is having her interview. heard it can take all day.

I think that was me. It was in a thread called confused. So why haven't you filed taxes? naughty naughty.

ok...I got all of that. I have anooder keshton tho'. I have some sticker books that my wife and I made with her sister and some of her cousins. If you've ever lived in China, y'all prolly know what I'm talking about. They're made in this kind of photo booth where you can get your picture taken cartoon style, or like on the cover of a magazine, then put on a small sticker. It's really silly, actually. So, should I or shouldn't I bring these?

one minute...wow...I only hope my wife's interview will be so lucky.

Does this mean that I have to get my I-134 notorized before my wife does the medical? We were planning on doing it after. I also have another question about the I-134. For the last few years I have been in China and haven't filed taxes because of income requirements. I had my mother joint-file on the case, and have her I-134 notorized and ready with all the docs. When I get my I-134 notorized, I plan to have it done at the consulate in GZ and include the following letter. _____________________________________________________________ To whom it may concern: This letter is an inclusion with the I-134 affidavit of support form regarding the K3 nonimmigrant visa case of LXX JXX, case number GUZXXXXXXXXXX. The purpose of this letter is to give an explanation as to why no supporting financial documents are included. For the last two years, I have been an independent student and part time volunteer teacher in China and the United States. Because of this, I have not made sufficient income required to file United States federal income tax, as published on page 12, chart A of the 1040 IRS instruction booklet. The reasons for my temporary stays in China were to build and sustain a loving relationship with my wife and her family and to be with her while waiting through the prolonged visa application process. To supplement the financial stipulations on the case, my mother, SXXXXX LXX JXXXXXXXX, has filed an additional I-134 affidavit of support, which fully meets the requirements. Sincerely, JXXXXXXXX EXXXXX JXXXXXXXX _____________________________________________________________ So, my question is this: Will the VO accept this for the financial requirements? Also, becasue I've been in China, will they also question my residency? I've heard of cases being denied because the petitioner did not demonstrate a domicile in the united states. In all my forms, I put down my address as in the United States. also, if you have any sugestions on how to improve the letter, I'd really apreciate it! Thanks!

Dog hotpot is a warming dish and best served in winter...it tastes a bit like lamb, actually. not bad at all. Cat is not commonly eaten outside of southern China, but it is actually quite tasty as well. Like a gamey chicken. All white meat.

I think Americans (in general, not just girls) have different concepts of what is "Clean". While in the US I find that many just give things a once over when cleaning...Chinese seem more thorough. Then there's the spitting. While it may seem dirty and unpolite to us, many Chinese consider using a tisue equally dirty (holding a paper full of nose yogurt-yuk!).

...when we were in Hong Kong Visiting my SOs aunt and uncle, we went to the pizza hut there and had sweet and sour style...with squid on top.